History

Our History

Compass 2 Campus is a mentorship program implemented by House Bill (HB) 1986 which passed both Houses of the Legislature on April 21, 2009. It was originally conceived at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay as the Phuture Phoenix Program by Cyndie Shepard, the wife of Bruce Shepard, former President of Western Washington University, and Ginny Riopelle, UW-Green Bay Council of Trustees member.

In April 2009, HB 1986 was passed by the Washington legislature and signed into law by Governor Gregoire, establishing Compass 2 Campus as the pilot mentoring initiative for the state of Washington. This bill gives credence to the commitment of the state to support mentoring as an effective way to encourage post-secondary education to underrepresented students in our K-12 school system.

In the fall of 2009, Western Washington University created the Compass 2 Campus program with the support of nine local school districts in Whatcom and Skagit counties, Western faculty and staff, and hundreds of Western student mentors.

 

Two young men, one with a blue shirt and a brown backpack, the other with a black jacket and white stripes talk to each other.
Group of young students chatting and smiling outdoors, one blowing bubbles.